He discarded her bra as quickly as he did her jacket, and then he slid her short skirt down her legs. It was incredibly arousing to stand naked in the arms of her new husband in a suit.
“I love you,” he murmured. “So very much. Since you came into my life, nothing has been the same and in the very best of ways.”
“Ditto,” she agreed. “I love you more than words.”
“So let’s dispense with the words.”
“On board with that.”
Laughing, he started doing something wonderful with his tongue, at the same time dropping his hands lower, fondling her bottom until she almost danced with eagerness. His tongue teased her nipple, and his hand slid between her legs, parting them...
“God, being with you is a thrill a minute.”
“We’re going to have so much fun tonight. We should put room service on speed dial.”
Nothing would ever be as much fun as making love with Tom.
“Mrs. Brunswick.” He murmured her name with awe as if it were a mystical incantation. “My wife, my love, my heart.”
“Haven’t you forgotten something?” She reached out and parted his shirt, opening buttons with fingers made deft by desire.
“On it, babe. I’ll never let you down.”
He undressed quickly, his body still a wonder to her—firm and strong with beguiling soft spots and places she could touch to reduce him to frantic eagerness. She’d lost track of how many times he’d melded his body with hers, each time deepening her pleasure and stoking fires she never expected to be extinguished.
Tom pulled her onto the bed and kissed her until her lips were ringed with the pinkness of passion and her wonderful pinkish-brown nipples were hard. He never knew what to expect; one minute she had to be coaxed, pulling a sheet to her chin and making a game of his urgency; the next she reached out to him, more exciting and erotic than he’d ever dreamed possible. He regretted every single night of his life not spent making love to her.
He couldn’t imagine life without her. She was gorgeous, sexy, alluring—and the nicest woman he’d ever met. He still got cold sweats when he realized how close he’d come to losing her. Knowing she was really his was like looking at the world with new eyes. Maybe his euphoria wouldn’t last, but his love would. There was nothing he wanted more than to make her happy.
Naked on the bed together, he moved over her, satisfied for the moment to admire her exquisite beauty—the smoothness of her skin, the lushness of her breasts, her graceful limbs and sleek little belly. When he parted her legs, he wanted to howl with happiness at her response.
Being inside her was like nothing he’d ever experienced. One moment she seemed lost in sensations, the next she caressed his shaft or ran her nails lightly over his buttocks. With any other woman, these were only erotic tricks, but there was so much love in Jude’s touch that he was humbled, grateful, and aroused more deeply than he’d ever dreamed possible.
“I love you.” He couldn’t say it enough, but when, sooner than he’d expected, her stunning climax triggered his own, he couldn’t stop saying it.
“I love you. I love you. I love you.”
He cradled her against his chest, drowsy but not wanting to sleep, knowing how little rest he needed to be ready to make love to her again.
The wonder of it was, what happened between them wasn’t just sex or any of the other terms he’d been using most of his life. He could only call it making love because that was what it was.
Later, much later, they lay with their legs entwined, her hair dark and glossy on his chest and her hand resting lightly on his shoulder.
He lifted her hand and looked at the sparkling solitaire—one diamond to represent one lifelong marriage, she called it—and the simple gold band she’d chosen, both more modest than he’d been willing to give her but more beautiful on her small hand than he could have imagined.
She admired it for a moment, then raised her head and smiled at him with heartwarming joy on her face and murmured, Mrs. Tom Brunswick.
“To think,” she said. “This all started with a bet.”
“Speaking of bets,” he said. “If you aim on winning, maybe you should change into that sexy lingerie while I call for room service. Sustenance is in order.”
As he watched his wife walk bare naked into the bathroom, Tom knew that while this was the absolutely best day of his life, there was so much more ahead of them.
Laughter, competition, boldness, learning. The possibilities were endless because of the love they shared.
Because at the heart of it all, their compatibility, their respect and admiration for each other, and their fun and playful spirits were what truly mattered most of all.
Love.
Pure and simple.
The answer was always love.
Dear Reader,
Readers are an author’s life blood and the stories couldn’t happen without you. Thank you so much for reading!
If you enjoyed The Makeshift Groom, Pam and I would so appreciate a review. You have no idea how much it means to us. You are the best! Keep reading and being your awesome, unique self.
If you’d like to keep up with our latest releases, you can sign up for Lori’s newsletter @ https://loriwilde.com/sign-up/.
To check out our other books, you can visit us on the web @ www.loriwilde.com.
Love and light,
Lori and Pam
About the Authors
Pam Andrews Hanson
Before teaming up with Lori Wilde, Pam Andrews Hanson co-wrote more than fifty novels with her mom, including romance and cozy mysteries. She is a former journalist and currently teaches freshmen composition in a university English department.
Lori Wilde
Lori Wilde is the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers’ Weekly bestselling author of 90 works of romantic fiction.
Her books have been translated into 26 languages, with more than four million copies of her books sold worldwide.
Her breakout novel, The First Love Cookie Club, has been optioned for a TV movie as has her series, Wedding Veil Wishes.
Lori is a registered nurse with a BSN from Texas Christian University. She holds a certificate in forensics, and is also a certified yoga instructor.
A fifth generation Texan, Lori lives with her husband, Bill, in the Cutting Horse Capital of the World; where they run Epiphany Orchards, a writing/creativity retreat for the care and enrichment of the artistic soul.
Also by Lori Wilde & Pam Andrews Hanson
WRONG WAY WEDDING SERIES
The Groom Wager
The DIY Groom
The Stand-In Groom
The Royal Groom
The Makeshift Groom
Excerpt from The Royal Groom—Leigh’s Story
My other car is a limo.
Leigh Bailey returned the heavy gas pump hose and glimpsed the bumper sticker on her shabby little convertible. Rain blew in her face, obscuring her vision for a moment and taking away her breath.
Her chances of ever owning a limo on her salary were nil, but wouldn’t it be nice to sit in a spacious back seat while a chauffeur braved the Florida storm to tank up for her?